Crafting Update...

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Is this a problem? I love to make things and it doesn't seem to take much to divert my attention to something ELSE that I want to make. So, I have several (did I say "several"....that's putting it mildly) projects, ALL going at the same time! What do you call that? Is it crazy? Sometimes I just lose interest in what I am making and set it aside, never to return.

So, here is what I am working on right now. I have a sweatshirt makeover that I started and was VERY excited about, until I saw a bracelet that I wanted to make. So, I started that! Then I finished my red sweater....and it turned out pretty good...but it could be better with a few changes...so I started on a blue one!!

Here is the finished Red Sweater....My VERY first knitted sweater!!



I have to "blame" the blogging world for this one....now I am all in to fall decorating (just in time to change it to Christmas?). I wanted a new table runner and couldn't find one I liked, so I decided to make one. I bought a piece of fall leaves fabric and cut out the edges and put glitter around the edge. The edges curled up, so I ironed on some interfacing and that fixed that! I LOVE how it turned out! This is a keeper!!


Here it is with my fall centerpiece from last year.


Now that I have all these fall colors in the house, my "springy" wreath doesn't fit in anymore. So, I made this one to replace it. It's my FIRST try at making a wreath. I didn't think I could do it, but when I saw what was available at my local stores....I knew I could do better than that. (Hey we only have Walmart and Kmart around here). So, here is my fall wreath:


This has been so fun!! And, I'm watching for all this "fall" stuff to go on sale so I can get some more for next year! Now. Where am I going to put all these decorations the rest of the year?

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My phone took a picture!

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This is an experiment. Can I blog from my phone?

We went to Yosemite today, to see our kid, and for hubby to take some photos.

I discovered an incredible feature on my phone called panorama. Maybe you already know about this, but it was all new to me!

It was like a fun game, and I'm hoping to post a couple...hope they turn out!


Mon am...okay, the experiment worked a little. The text is from yesterday, but I could not figure out how to put the pictures on (I just put them on from my computer this am from home). Anyone know how to do post pics from your phone?

Ain't technology grand?!

Have a great Monday!

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Pink Saturday....Sock Hop!

It's Pink Saturday!! Check out the pink at Beverly's:
Happy Happy Birthday to 2 very special people!!


And, to celebrate the occasion, we were invited to a "Sock Hop".

What a complete blast we all had! The party was in a large space and it was all decorated in theme. The food was ALL AMERICAN, hamburgers and hot dogs.

Our hostess even put down a 50's style dance floor! And, dance we DID!!

This is our hostess and birthday girl.....Pretty In Pink!!




She was wearing a poodle skirt....with a PINK poodle!!


And, matching PINK poodle earrings! SO cute!!


And, because it was a "Sock Hop", here are the socks....PINK!


I was trying to figure out what to wear. I found a sweater set and some pearls in my closet. That ought to do it, right? Well, I thought I would go to the local costume shop, which is located inside an antique mall and see if I could also find some glasses.

The minute I walked over to the costume area, the lady asked if I was going to the 50's Party. I asked her how she knew about it and she said that others had been in. She brought me right over to the Poodle Skirts. I told her, very directly, that I was NOT going to wear a poodle skirt. She said that the others bought poodle skirts. Ugh.


I also said I would NOT wear a pony tail.


Note to self: stop saying what you will NOT do. Just makes you look silly....

Here is my new poodle skirt and pony tail, and my date "The Fonz" who looks a lot like my hubby! (Not Pink....sorry)



All the men were in a uniform of jeans, white T, black shoes, white socks and LEATHER jacket. Every guy I asked was outfitted by the wife. Aren't we so funny? It was like a Fonzie Convention!!

This is also NOT pink....but it was soooooooo yummy! And, inside was a treat....a delectable berry filling (that was kind of pink). MMMMMmmmm.



Happy Pink Saturday everyone!!


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If you like purses....check these out!!

I went to a winery in Lodi (in Calif.) a few weeks ago and had a fabulous time. It was a fundraiser (aren't we all so glad that the politics are over!!). I'm not a wine connoisseur by any stretch of the imagination, BUT, the wine that they were serving was so wonderful, I wish I had bought some!!

I digress...while we were walking around the beautiful building and grounds, I was completely captivated by their merchandise. They had great clothing, many art glass pieces, too too much to mention. Of course, being a purse lover and collector, I was attracted to these purses. They are truly ART! And, these photos are only a few of the purses. I would cherish any one of them if they were in my own collection.

This one is my favorite. I love the beadwork and the soft flounces of color on the sides.


Red and Black and fabulous! Those roses are incredible!!



I took so many pictures, I think that the owner thought I was a "spy". She kept coming over and asking me "Can I help you?". I felt guilty (why is that?). So, my dear dear blogger friends, there isn't any length I will not go to so as to share with you!

I see so many photos on other blogs from inside stores. How do you do it? Please share your "secret agent" secrets with me!!


By the way, I expected the prices for these treasures to be sky high....and they were not. I can't remember the exact prices, but I remember thinking that even I could afford one...on a VERY special occasion. Maybe someday.....??



Look at all this bead work. The entire purse is covered with beads.




Lest you think that this winery is only about purses....I will tell you that they have a beautiful antique bar of the most wonderful wood. It's enormous and rich. The tasting room is large and open and filled with amazing things. They have a HUGE organ that plays by itself, and the grounds are lovely.



This is a beautiful beaded scarf:



This is the entry gate, it's all iron and the photograph does not do it justice.

If you are curious about the winery, you can see pictures of it on their website: http://www.bergholdvineyards.com

I am looking forward to going back!

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I voted!

I voted! It's such a wonderful experience. I've been voting at the same polling place for 20 years. For me, that's a long long time!

Our polling place is in a Town Hall in a small mountain town in the middle of nowhere. The building is an old building dating back to the California gold rush era, it was once a one room schoolhouse.

I have never seen a line there, but I always go in the mid morning time, which may have something to do with that. After I voted, I handed my ballot to an elderly woman who entered it in to the machine and then asked for a HUG! I said OF COURSE!

I watched my husband go do the same and she asked him for a HUG! She will be getting 4 years worth of hugs today....


Then we went to the room next door and had breakfast. There are photos all over the walls from all the years gone by, dating all the way back to the 1800's.

That's a long time back in California years.

This video is ADORABLE. You will laugh your head off no matter what your politics:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svhq4C9HhUg

Happy Voting Day to All.


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Family Traditions

My son came home this weekend and I took the opportunity to have my daughter and son-in-law over for brunch. I told them I would make Swedish Hotcakes. This is a family tradition.

I remember when I was little, my Grandma made them. We LOVED them so much. All of us kids would boast about how many we were going to eat....and of course we coudn't possibly accomplish our wild predictions!

Grandma never did tell anyone how to make them. I came across a recipe once in the back of a book of Christmas stories and it sounded like it might be the same. And, it was!! The tradition was now continuing in my own little family!!

I lost that recipe a long time ago. I know that it involves a lot of eggs and egg yolks, milk, flour, and more butter than I would care to admit! I just wing it each time...holding my breath to see if it turns out. Someone always rushes to volunteer to eat the "test" hotcake! It's pretty much a crepe.



We like to put butter (yes...more butter) on them and sprinkle powdered sugar. Then roll it up and you have a delectable treat!! Some people like to put jam on theirs. Now that I know what's in them, I don't usually even have one. I spend time making one after another as my kids wait their turn for first, seconds and sometimes thirds!! My daughter said she was going to eat 8!! She had 3.


The best part about making Swedish Hotcakes is the memories. Mine. Theirs.

They (my kids) love to show people all about them. My mother in law came over to join us.

When I am standing in the kitchen, pouring yet another hotcake on the griddle, I am transported back in time. My Grandmother is standing there, watching the hotcake as one of us kids stands in line with an empty plate waiting for the next yummy hotcake to be plopped on their plate.

Even though I have my moments of doubt...."will this turn out?"....they always do. Grandma must be guiding me...ya think?



For you Connie....here is my new dark "do". What do you think?



Happy Monday!!


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Pink Saturday...Pretty Purses

Yipee! It's Pink Saturday! This is an event that happens every Saturday and is hosted by Beverly, click on the pink saturday above and you will see MORE Pink! I love visiting the participants of Pink Saturday....what a creative bunch! Please leave a comment, everyone loves getting comments!! (I know I do!)

My pink post today is Purses. I have a "sort of" collection of purses, some vintage and some current. I love my purses so much! And, I didn't like the idea of having them in a drawer or shelf somewhere....so I hung hooks in the ceiling of my closet and hung them up. That way I get to enjoy them all the time.

This purse is so precious, it has a wonderful shape, corded handle and a fabulous tassle on the side. I think it's elegant.


Most of my purses are black, is that a surprise? I also have a couple of silver, gold, brown, beige and patterned. This next purse is black with lots of pretty beading. Pink is the main color of the accent beads. An evening bag to go with almost anything!


This last bag is so exquisite! I found it at a consignment store. It's beads, beads and more beads. And, lot's of luscious PINK!


In my most recent post, I admitted to loving clothes and shoes. Now, I'm showing purses. Are you seeing a pattern here?

Happy Pink Saturday!!

P.S. You just have to go enter in this fabulous giveaway....
http://rosechicfriends.blogspot.com/

I wish you the best....but I still hope that I am the winner!!


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